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Wildfires destroy homes near Sydney

Smoke billows in the background of a cricket match at Drummoyne Oval, north of SydneyEntire neighbourhoods had to be evacuated because of the wildfiresSmoke and ash from wildfires burning across New South Wales blanket a cruise ship in Sydney HarbourSmoke from wildfires fills the sky over SydneyA plane flies into a plume of smoke near SydneyThe skyline near the Sydney Opera HouseSydney's skies were full of smokePeople take pictures at Sydney HarbourA view of the skyline from Sydney's CBDThe sky over the Sydney Harbour BridgeThe view across Sydney Harbour from the base of the bridge

A spate of wildfires has destroyed at least 30 homes west of Sydney in Australia.

Fuelled by unseasonably high temperatures and strong winds, dozens of fires are burning in the Blue Mountains region and other parts of New South Wales state.

The airport at Newcastle, 160km north of Sydney, was closed and schools, workplaces and entire neighbourhoods were evacuated.

"If we get through with less than 100 homes destroyed today, we have been lucky," Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said.

He described the conditions as the most dangerous in the state in a decade.